The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) was established in 1995 after the Automotive Food Metals and Engineering Union amalgamated with the Printing and Kindred Industries Union to become the Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing and Kindred Industries Union, better known as the AMWU.

The Association of Architects Engineers Surveyors and Draughtsmen of Australia was formed in Brisbane in 1915 and was registered in the Industrial Court of Queensland in 1917. By 1944 there were branches in New South Wales and Victoria and the AAESDA was able to gain federal registration. It included within its scope members of the deregistered Australian Association of Draughtsmen (1948) and the Federation of Scientific and Technical Workers (1971). In 1981 a new title, Association of Draughting Supervisory and Technical Employees was adopted. The Association amalgamated with the Australian Public Service Artisans' Association in 1986.

The Association of Draughting Supervisory and Technical Employees was reformed after an amalgamation with the Australian Public Service Artisans' Association in 1986. ADSTE amalgamated again in 1991 with the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union to form the Metals and Engineering Workers' Union.

Metals & Engineering Workers' Union was formed from the amalgamation of the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union and the Association of Draughting Supervisory & Technical Employees in 1991. It operated until 1993 when it was amalgamated with the Vehicle Builders Employees' Federation of Australia to become part of the Automotive Metals & Engineering Union.

The Printing Industry Employees' Union of Australia, known as the One Big Union of Printers in 1916, was registered federally in 1917. On 31 March 1966 the Printing Industry Employees' Union of Australia and the Amalgamated Printing Trades Employees' Union of Australia signed an agreement to amalgamate to form the Printing and Kindred Industries Union.

The Printing & Kindred Industries Union was formed on 6 July 1966 after the amalgamation of the Printing Industry Employees' Union of Australia and the Amalgamated Printing Trades Employees' Union of Australia. In 1986 the PKIU amalgamated with the Federated Photo Engravers Photo-Lithographers & Photogravure Employees' Association of Australia, and in 1992 with the Victorian Printers Operatives' Union. It was re-registered and retained its name until 1995 when the PKIU amalgamated with the Automotive Food Metals and Engineering Union to form the Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing & Kindred Industries Union, otherwise known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.

The Union formed in 1994 when the Automotive Metals & Engineering Union and the Confectionery Workers' & Food Preservers' Union of Australia amalgamated. In 1995 it merged with the Printing & Kindred Industries Union to form the Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing & Kindred Industries Union, otherwise known as the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.